Metcalf v. Norman

Filing 22

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner's Motions for Evidentiary Hearing 19 and Appointment of Counsel 20 are DENIED without prejudice. Signed by District Judge John A. Ross on 10/29/14. (JWD)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION

SHOHN METCALF,

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Petitioner,
v.
JAY CASSADY,
Respondent.

No. 4:13-CV-1216-JAR

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on Petitioner’s Motion for Evidentiary Hearing (Doc.
No. 19) and Motion for Appointment of Counsel. (Doc. No. 20) Upon consideration, Petitioner’s
motions will be denied without prejudice.
The Court finds that at this stage of the litigation, an evidentiary hearing is neither
warranted nor necessary. Wright v. Bowersox, 720 F.3d 979, 987 (8th Cir. 2013). Further, the
appointment of counsel for a habeas petitioner is discretionary. Hayes v. Bowersox, 2014 WL
1212287, at *2 (E.D.Mo. Mar. 24, 2014) (citing McCall v. Benson, 114 F.3d 754, 756 (8th
Cir.1997)). To determine whether appointment of counsel is appropriate, the Court considers
“the factual and legal complexity of the case, and the petitioner's ability both to investigate and
to articulate his claims without court appointed counsel.” Id. In the instant case, Petitioner's
grounds for habeas relief do not appear to be factually or legally complex. Further, Petitioner has
thus far been able to articulate his claims in a clear, concise manner in both the Petition and the
Traverse. Because Petitioner has demonstrated an ability to adequately present his claims

without an attorney, the Court finds that the interests of justice do not warrant appointment of
counsel at this time. Id. (citing Hoggard v. Purkett, 29 F.3d 469, 472 (8th Cir.1994)).
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner’s Motions for Evidentiary Hearing [19]
and Appointment of Counsel [20] are DENIED without prejudice.

Dated this 29th day of October, 2014.

_______________________________
JOHN A. ROSS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE